Every year or two an epic battle between developers and citizens erupts in New York City. There was the battle over the West Side Stadium in 2005 (which was killed) and then there was fight over the Atlantic Yards development project in Brooklyn (which wasn't killed) in 2006-2007. Now, in 2008, Willets Point in Queens is the new front is this perennial struggle.
Here's the deal: Mayor Bloomberg's administration and his developer friends want to rezone the area and use eminent domain laws to evict over 200 small businesses and tear up the whole neighborhood. Why? They want (allegedly) to build a hotel, a convention center, and lots of retail space. This gang considers Willet's Point "doomed" and they want to gussy it up and pimp it out. They believe tourists and convetioneers and fancy stores are gonna schlep all the way out to Corona, Queens (right near where Shea Stadium was and is) for this stuff. This is an area btw that is grossly underserved by public transportation (basically there's just the 7 train) and already is choking with traffic. If this plan goes through, not only will all these small businesses be wrecked so that big businesses move in, but already nightmarish traffic will be made worse. That's assuming that the crowds come, which I found doubtful. Can anyone say ... debacle?
This ain't happening without a fight. The City Council has to approve this and right now more than 32 members say they're opposed. The neighborhood is outraged by this plan and rightly so. The focus should be, as always, on building more affordable housing in this city. We need that more than anything else!
Why do some people think hotels and stadiums and convention centers are the answer to improve blighted cities or neighborhoods? Oh I know, "they create jobs" but most jobs in this country are created by small businesses. So I have an idea: make it easier for more small businesses to open in Willets Point (more jobs!) and build more affordable housing (more jobs and housing!). As always, it seems that some people don't want to do the right thing until they exhaust all of the alternatives.
If you want to know more check out today's Times' article about this: A Confrontation Over the Future of Willets Point. Also, there's a great blog called Queens Crap which is easily the best informational resource (better than the Times) about this and all things Queens.
Here's the deal: Mayor Bloomberg's administration and his developer friends want to rezone the area and use eminent domain laws to evict over 200 small businesses and tear up the whole neighborhood. Why? They want (allegedly) to build a hotel, a convention center, and lots of retail space. This gang considers Willet's Point "doomed" and they want to gussy it up and pimp it out. They believe tourists and convetioneers and fancy stores are gonna schlep all the way out to Corona, Queens (right near where Shea Stadium was and is) for this stuff. This is an area btw that is grossly underserved by public transportation (basically there's just the 7 train) and already is choking with traffic. If this plan goes through, not only will all these small businesses be wrecked so that big businesses move in, but already nightmarish traffic will be made worse. That's assuming that the crowds come, which I found doubtful. Can anyone say ... debacle?
This ain't happening without a fight. The City Council has to approve this and right now more than 32 members say they're opposed. The neighborhood is outraged by this plan and rightly so. The focus should be, as always, on building more affordable housing in this city. We need that more than anything else!
Why do some people think hotels and stadiums and convention centers are the answer to improve blighted cities or neighborhoods? Oh I know, "they create jobs" but most jobs in this country are created by small businesses. So I have an idea: make it easier for more small businesses to open in Willets Point (more jobs!) and build more affordable housing (more jobs and housing!). As always, it seems that some people don't want to do the right thing until they exhaust all of the alternatives.
If you want to know more check out today's Times' article about this: A Confrontation Over the Future of Willets Point. Also, there's a great blog called Queens Crap which is easily the best informational resource (better than the Times) about this and all things Queens.
i am a land and business owner in willets point for over 30 years the city has withheld services , streets , sewers so that this day would come . people don't understand the evil of claire shulman nad helen marshall and what they have done . now they stick their face on tv and they have a plan. well were have you been for 30 years? what about all the times we asked for what we pay taxes for streets ,sewers , enforcement & services and you said no that you had better plans for our land. now we see what you ment. the city is trying to give a gift to tdc development as a developer of this project . wellington chen is as evil as the golden girls. shame on you claire shame on you helen your both unfit to govern
ReplyDeleteMr. NYC, you wrote:
ReplyDelete"then there was fight over the Atlantic Yards development project in Brooklyn (which wasn't killed) in 2006-2007..."
that fight, in its fifth year, is ongoing and going strong. please correct.
underserved by public transport?
ReplyDeletewhat about the LIRR?
what about the Q19, Q48, and Q66 bus routes
water taxis out of flushing bay?
not to mention three major highways right there..
Thanks to both of these commentators for their corrections. They're both good things to know.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear about the ongoing opposition to Atlantic Yards.
I am curious about the public transporation in Willets Point: do you think that the LIRR, the bus routes and the Water Taxi will be enough to accommodate the influx of people that the proposed redevelopment would create?
Anonymous continues his defense of the 'plan' of the Holy Troika, Shulman, Marshall and Bloomberg with so many facts as to belie his 'anonymity'. He/she is too informed of the kool aid EDC nonsense. Please pray tell,what 'slot' do you fill at William St?..
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Hear this: When all the business occurs every day, 7 days a week, whom do you think those 'blights' at Willets Point serve?..Answer: They serve all the blue (and below blue) collar workers that need a tire, a battery, a windshield, an alternator so they can get to work, school, and LIVE in our city. Do YOU care where they will go for these services?.. No, neither does Claire Shulman, Helen Marshall and hizzoner. But fear not folks, they will come up with some political mumbo jumbo that THEY think the poor people will not understand. Racism at its worst!
ReplyDeletei think the "tourist" and "conventioneer" and destination retail components are being overplayed.
ReplyDeleteas you wrote
The focus should be, as always, on building more affordable housing in this city. We need that more than anything else!
and WP adds nearly 6,000 NEW units of housing to an area of the city that is desperate for additional housing.
the retail component will largely be a boom and extension to the Corona and Flushing neighborhoods.
hotel wise you are talking about 700 rooms at most and the convention center is not a major national destination. more of a regional facility. I mean you wont see the boat show roll into Willets most likely.
Where was Monserrate on Hudson Yards, Atlantic Yards, Williamsburg, West Harlem and all the other maga-zonings (many of which used Eminent Domain). Monserrate was right there supporting it. He's a hypocrite as are all the other council members on that letter. Why should anyone now care about what Monserrate has to say when their neighborhoods are already being bulldozed partially thanks to him.
ReplyDeletethe only reason Hiram is such a zealot all of a sudden is 20% of his State Senate Campaign Financing is directly out of the pockets of the Willets Point Business Owners and WP Industry and Realty Association.
ReplyDeletethis is a fact.
They serve all the blue (and below blue) collar workers that need a tire, a battery, a windshield, an alternator so they can get to work, school, and LIVE in our city. Do YOU care where they will go for these services?.
ReplyDeletei imagine they will go to whereever all the auto repair shops are relocated to.
there's nothing magical about willets that makes it the PERFECT location for auto repair shops. they've just congregated there over the years . But the area is a polluted sty and needs to be cleaned and repurposed for additional housing, more jobs and the benefit of all new yorkers